Where does it end?!

[mickey mouse lover]

Hey Zzub, I'm with you on the pound cake. What a shame if they do away with it. I hate seeing that all the restaurants are becoming more and more alike with no specific specialties for that restaurant. Think if we complained loud enough someone would listen?

 

[50 years Too!]

I agree with ZZUB on the chef issues.
(I'm a teacher at a culinary school).
A person who reheats Stouffers meals (as in LTT) is not a real chef.

 

[ZZUB]

Think if we complained loud enough someone would listen?

Who do we complain to? I'd be more than glad to register a complaint if I knew where to send it to and if I thought it would actually be given some consideration. I'm getting tired of having other people decide what we can eat on vacation. It seems like in the last year Disney has decided we all like bread pudding. It's now a stapleevery where. It's as if they got a deal on bread pudding. Which might explain why it shows up on virtually every menu.

I sincerely don't believe this is an issue of chef preference. This either comes down to money or the food police.

If anyone knows who we could register a complaint with, please pass along that information. I love me some Disney World, but I'm getting tired of paying more for less.

 

[lexmelinda]

I love me some Disney World, but I'm getting tired of paying more for less.

Well said. Are you a lawyer?

It's not about the food police. It's about the money! It's always about money. I don't think Disney cares whether or not we eat food that's good for us. I think they'd prefer that we eat what's cheap and convenient for them.

Let's see....Beef and bleu cheese on ciabatta is probably easier to prepare and keeps better than a cheesesteak which must be made to order each and every time. Read: it's cheaper on food and labor costs.

Bread pudding is made from, well, stale bread. There is an obvious surprlus of stale bread at Disney.

But.

I agree with Mel....that banana/coconut bread pudding (or whatever they call it) at Ohana is amazing and was the absolute best dessert we had all week. NOChocolateWhiskeyCake.

As long as I keep going in September when the food is all free...I don't think I'll complain.

Now about the tip not being included.........

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

If anyone knows who we could register a complaint with, please pass along that information. I love me some Disney World, but I'm getting tired of paying more for less.

Call 867-5309.


You have to ask for "Jenny". BTW.

 

[Mr Man]

I feel your pain.

Because the following items have ALSO disappeared:

1. The BEAVERTAILS which were sold at Epcot in...Canada!

2. The Maple Creme Brule is now reportably missing from the dessert menu at Le Cellier at Epcot in...Canada!

3. The Chocolate Moose was taken off the kids' dessert menu and put on the more expensive adult dessert menu at Le Cellier at Epcot in...Canada!

3.a. The Cottage PIE is GONE from the dinner menu at the R&C in Epcot! Which is exactly RIGHT BESIDE...Canada!

3.b. The Fettucine Alfredo as well as the entire old Alfredo's Restaurant, Epcot, which is exactly six countries away from... Canada!

4. The HUGE grilled shrimp on skewers at...'Ohanada!

5. The fresh pineapple chunks served for dessert with carmel sauce at...'Ohanada!


Now, I may be being a tad bit paranoid... but I detect some sort of pattern here.


SO need a Treaty of Ghent, Dude.


Cheers, Mel.

Treaty of Ghent....priceless........are you really Dennis Miller?

(singing) Canadaaaaaa.....(Ohanadaaaaaaaaaa)......my bread puddingggggg.....you have substituted pound cake and started a flame war threaaaaad.........

I think South Park did this one too (cue Blame Canada)......

Fair disclosure. I like Canada. It is not lame. It is cold, large and "beer" is spoken there.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Actually I agree with you that their food policies lately have taken some of the fun out of Disney dining.

What food policies? What are you all talking about? Who are the food police?

Because the following items have ALSO disappeared:

1. The BEAVERTAILS which were sold at Epcot in...Canada!

No real loss here. Beavertails are m'eh at best and gross at worst. There are so many great snacks from Canada that they could put there.

I sincerely don't believe this is an issue of chef preference. This either comes down to money or the food police.

Of course it comes down to money. Why wouldn't it? Clearly, your beloved dessert is not a hugely popular item and they think they can make more money with a different dessert. I know that you are disappointed but you can hardly fault Disney for that.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Of course it comes down to money. Why wouldn't it? Clearly, your beloved dessert is not a hugely popular item and they think they can make more money with a different dessert. I know that you are disappointed but you can hardly fault Disney for that.

Good point. Food's big business at WDW and I hardly think that if a slice of pound cake grilled in butter, not exactly a high cost menu item for Disney, was selling hand over fist, at the prices Disney charges, that they'd take it off the menu. If the general public isn't ordering a certain menu item, I don't care how much the minority enjoys it, Disney, or any successful restaurant for that matter, won't keep it around.

And for the record, I never tried the pound cake, but by just looking at those pictures, I gained 10 lbs. and 2 new cavities formed. It looks soooo good...I'll have to try and recreate it at home.

 

[crzy4mk]

Back up a second . . . somebody mentioned the crab cake and pot roast coming off the menu?!?!?!?!? Better be a joke!

Seriously, I love these 2 things and would hate to see them go the way of so many other's favorites already mentioned.

No one has mentioned the part of the DDP in all this. I know, I know, it gets blamed for a lot around the DIS these days, but I have to believe it plays a part in some of these decisions. If you are discounting food (or in the case of "free dining", giving away food) as a business, you are going to do whatever you can to keep costs down. Not sure if this applies here, but I do think you can look at several WDW menus and deduce that they are cutting corners they didn't always cut.

Just my .02.

 

[ZZUB]

What food policies? What are you all talking about? Who are the food police?

About a year ago, Disney instituted new policies restricting the fat and caloric levels of its food items. Property-wide (perhaps company wide), they began altering portion sizes and recipies to comply with the new restrictions. They removed fries, cookies and pop from the children's menu and started serving veggies and fruit instead. It was only after a certain amount of backlash that they made fries and cookies and pop an option for parents to buy their kids. While I don't fault them for making lower fat, less calorie-laden items available as options, I do rebel against the food police telling us what we can enjoy. It's vacation. Not middle school.

As for your your contention, "Clearly, your beloved dessert is not a hugely popular item and they think they can make more money with a different dessert." I don't think that's a reasonable inference. The ribeye steak was in fact a "hugely popular item" at LeCellier. But Disney took it off the menu. There have been countless examples of "hugely popular item" suddenly, and without explanation, being removed from menus all across Disney World. While it may be true that I'm the only fat-loving rube who enjoyed the Butter Grilled Pound Cake, absent your opinion, there is no evidence to support your argument that it was not "hugely popular." I'll concede that Disney thinks it can make more money off a different dessert. Just not for the reason you assert.

Finally, since Disney made and sold Butter Grilled Pound Cake and since Disney has stopped selling it, for whatever reasons, I fail to see who else I could or would be disappointed with. Should I blame George Bush?

Because I will if it means Disney will commence selling Butter Grilled Pound Cake again.

 

[mickeysgal]

Back up a second . . . somebody mentioned the crab cake and pot roast coming off the menu?!?!?!?!? Better be a joke!

NO...as far as I know the pot roast isn't coming off the menu. I said, thats all I'd have to hear next...with all the changes thusfar, IF the post roast came off the menu, THEN I'd be taking LTT off my to-do list.

Someone else mentioned that they heard the crab cakes MAY be doomed also.

 

[lynr]

In reference to the pound cake not being popular; we were told by the waitress in September that it was the most popular dessert on the menu.

Oh was it GOOD!!!!

Lyn

 

[CamColt]

Hockey Puck dessert at ESPN
Rice at Ohana
Pineapple/caramel at Ohana
Chicken broccoli & pasta at Mama Melrose
Spinach & fried onions served with Terryaki Beef at Kona(still have the beef...just not with those extras)
Beavertails in Canada

And going way way back to the 80s, the chocolate chip walnut pie at the Main St Bake shop(although I make a pretty good version of it, it's not the same).

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Restaurants change menus. That's what they do. At least I would hope so. Otherwise, a good amount of people would stop going after they've eaten mostly everything in favour of something new. Not only that but, in the restaurant biz, you don't want your cooks utterly bored or the food will suffer.

No one has mentioned the part of the DDP in all this. I know, I know, it gets blamed for a lot around the DIS these days, but I have to believe it plays a part in some of these decisions. If you are discounting food (or in the case of "free dining", giving away food) as a business, you are going to do whatever you can to keep costs down. Not sure if this applies here, but I do think you can look at several WDW menus and deduce that they are cutting corners they didn't always cut.

I hear what you're saying but I really don't think that's the case with this item. This is the type of item that would have a low food cost and thus a good-sized profit per unit.

About a year ago, Disney instituted new policies restricting the fat and caloric levels of its food items.

{snip}

While I don't fault them for making lower fat, less calorie-laden items available as options, I do rebel against the food police telling us what we can enjoy. It's vacation. Not middle school.

Your whole theory on the food police seems a little paranoid to me. I was pretty sure that their new policy aimed mostly at changing kids menus AND offering healthy alternatives. Not only that, but I don't think anyone is forcing you to eat healthy while at WDW. I just came back, and I can tell you, the menus are still overwhelmingly unhealthy.

The ribeye steak was in fact a "hugely popular item" at LeCellier. But Disney took it off the menu. There have been countless examples of "hugely popular item" suddenly, and without explanation, being removed from menus all across Disney World.

Are you telling me that Disney was making huge amounts of money off these items and decided to randomly take them off the menu? This is doubtful. They obviously thought that they could make more money and satisfy more people by creating some new options.

For goodness sake, you're getting all upset over a piece of cake (brining up conspiracy theories and all) that almost anyone could whip up at home being taken away, in a World full of food.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Disney knows they have won the battle for your wallet. They no longer need to entice you by keeping your favorite dessert on the menu. Actually I agree with you that their food policies lately have taken some of the fun out of Disney dining.

1) I agree.
2) We should call the new CEO, "Iger the Ogre".
3) Maybe we can petition to bring back Eisner?
4) OMG !
5) I can't believe I said that !

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You know...I'm familiar with the new food policies...but it didn't match our experieince all that much.

Full disclosure, I'm not sad to see fried danish french toast off the menu at CRT.

We found things like Dole Whips, cocolate chip cookies, buttered popcorn...Oh, and while there are no beaver tails - it's only a short walk to get funnel cakes in the American pavillion.

One thing that was missing from a number of our meals at WDW this trip was vegetables. Now it may be a reflection of our dining choices this trip, and our menu choices. I noticed the QS kids meals frequently offer applesauce, pudding, and grapes, but not so much green beans and broccoli. Though a few offered a green salad.

This has been a complaint of mine in the past, but then it seemed like WDW was getting a little better for awhile about having some good veggies here and there....this last trip they were all but absent. Menu items that were listed as coming with a vegetable, it turned out that the veggie in question was nothing more than a minimal garnish. The steak in Le Cellier said it had parsnips - but they were just three thin fried crisps.

The steak at Cali Grill said it came with green beans, but it was only a very few. The fish said it came with a veggie, but I don't recall seeing much when the plate arrived. The eggplant rolatini had minimal eggplant at Tony's, and the ziti dish was REALLY pathetic. Only tomato sauce and noodles. C'mon. They could have at least garnished the plate with something green.

If WDw was REALLY about makig choices healthier, then you'd think they'd have more veggies!

 

[ZZUB]

Your whole theory on the food police seems a little paranoid to me.

I hardly think it's paranoid to observe that Disney has instituted new food policies which are hardly "alternatives" and they are shoving them down our throats. You should pardon the expression. Taking items off of menus and replacing them with less appealing/"more healthy" items is not an alternative. But in your world, if that makes me a paranoid food fanatic, I'll have to learn to live with your scorn.

"Are you telling me that Disney was making huge amounts of money off these items and decided to randomly take them off the menu? This is doubtful." Perhaps you didn't read my posts carefully. I have already argued that these decisions were either the result of my so-called paranoid food police conspiracy theories or cost savings to Disney. Either way, I'm not happy about it.

And although I've been blaming George Bush for it, nothing has changed. Dangit!

"For goodness sake, you're getting all upset over a piece of cake." Darn right I am. It was GOOD cake! If you had sampled it, you might understand my rage.

 

[raidermatt]

Restaurants change menus. That's what they do. At least I would hope so. Otherwise, a good amount of people would stop going after they've eaten mostly everything in favour of something new. Not only that but, in the restaurant biz, you don't want your cooks utterly bored or the food will suffer.

Unfortunately, many of the changes to WDW menus over the last few years have involved either removing things without a replacement, or replacing things with more mundane choices that can be found at other restaurants.

Yes, I know this keeps costs down. Lots of things would keep costs down. That doesn't mean it's best to do them.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I hardly think it's paranoid to observe that Disney has instituted new food policies which are hardly "alternatives" and they are shoving them down our throats.

As I and others have pointed out, this is not the case. Nobody is shoving healthy food down your throat. Please go and take a look at the food menus and you will see an abundance of unhealthy food.

 

[lexmelinda]

Yes, I know this keeps costs down. Lots of things would keep costs down. That doesn't mean it's best to do them.

Unfortunately, corporations such as Disney are not about doing the "best" thing for the customer but they are only about doing the "best" thing for their bottom line. The people in food & beverage wouldn't be doing their jobs if they weren't constantly trying to lower food, liquor, and labor costs.

The food police theory is somewhat of a grassy nole issue, ZZUB. Interesting but hard to prove when it comes to Disney dining in general. I suspect that your pound cake was the victim of a purchasing issue. It's likely that not enough pound cake was being served at Disney (is it served anywhere else?) and consequently the purchase price was too high and there goes your dessert.

Get in on the ground floor of any new offering at Disney (such as the DDP) if you want to get the most value out of it. As soon as something becomes popular, Disney will always start to work on how they can squeeze more money out of it. Therefore, the quality declines and/or you lose your favorite dessert.

Shout out to the poster who wants more veggies! If they're not going to give us an appetizer with our entree on the DDP then for crying out loud at least give us a small dinner salad or some steamed broccoli next to that mushroom filet!